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I have a P0430 code on my 2008 Base and I took my car to a muffler shop and they suggested removing the rear cats and having a tuner bypass the rear O2 sensors to clear the CEL. The car is running fine as far as I can tell. I tried Cataclean twice and I cleared the code but it has come back. Any ideas on a reasonable cost to remove the rear cats and reprogram?
I live in a non-inspection state, so I guess this is an option but my car is fully stock and I'm unsure of the possible repercussions. I don't want my car to be substantially louder or have any performance problems.
Magnaflow cats look to be $600 for just the parts and I don't have a lift so I'd have to take to a shop to install.
Replace your O2 sensors all 4 of them. Clear your code and go from there. As far as cats how many miles on your car? The other thing you can do is put O2 spacers on the downstream sensors they work. under ten dollars each.
Thanks for the info! What do the O2 spacers do? Does that just move them out of the flow so they don't register anymore?
Also, curious if there is a reason to replace all 4 at the same time? Is it bad to have one new one and 3 old ones? Or, maybe replace the 2 rear? Not really worried about the cost...just my luck I would end up breaking something if I'm replacing something that doesn't necessarily need to be replaced at this time.
I work at an auto parts store. O2’s can be an issue. The spacers remove some of the flow of emissions so the ECM thinks the cats are working properly. I used them on many cars. They do work.
I work at an auto parts store. O2’s can be an issue. The spacers remove some of the flow of emissions so the ECM thinks the cats are working properly. I used them on many cars. They do work.
Agree. They work.
Used to find them all over Amazon but they don't sell them there anymore. Can still find them on Ebay.
Used to find them all over Amazon but they don't sell them there anymore. Can still find them on Ebay.
The spacers are illegal in US. I’ve purchased a few of them for different cars. I purchased them online from China. Free shipping but takes 7-10 days. If you google them they are still available.
I'll take a moment to explain how O2 Sensors work with Monitors. I'm sure you already know. So this is for those that do not.
Upstream Senors measure the amount of emissions that come out the exhaust side of the cylinder heads BEFORE the CAT. Let's say a scale of 1 to10 and its let's say a 7. Then the exhaust goes thru the CAT(S) Then the exhaust goes passed the Downstream sensor. They should measure a much lower emission level Let's say a 3 in a scale of 1 to10 That Shows the ECM that the CAT(S) are running at the required efficiency level. These are called monitors that report to the ECM. If the downstream level is too high or close to 5 or 6. That will flag the ECM that gives you P0430 or P0420 code. I hope this helps people understand how the system works. So If your O2's are not 100% it can give a P0420 Drivers side P0430 Passenger sidecode as well. P.S. This is just a basic explanation of the how this works.
Reach out to your local tuner and see if he is able to just tune out the rear 02 sensors. Same thing happened to me 12 or so years ago before I bought my LT headers. Local tuner charged me $50 to just turn them off and all was good.
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Options for addressing P0430 code
